Tyler Perry has conquered the entertainment world — the creative force between two dozen films, 17 television shows, bestselling books and 20 stage plays. He built a thriving studio complex in Atlanta, and just today Deadline reported he has signed a first-look deal with Netflix to produce faith-based films alongside DeVon Franklin.
It’s been a long and improbable journey to the top of his profession, a tale told in the Emmy-contending documentary Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story. Gelila Bekele (Perry’s former life partner) and Armani Ortiz directed the Amazon MGM Studios film, with the first footage shot a decade ago.
“I saw this man becoming busier than ever and I had the privilege of having a front-row seat and I wanted to just document it for archive,” Bekele explained during an appearance at the Deadline Studio at Prime Experience in Hollywood. “I realized there’s a huge chunk of missing history,...
It’s been a long and improbable journey to the top of his profession, a tale told in the Emmy-contending documentary Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story. Gelila Bekele (Perry’s former life partner) and Armani Ortiz directed the Amazon MGM Studios film, with the first footage shot a decade ago.
“I saw this man becoming busier than ever and I had the privilege of having a front-row seat and I wanted to just document it for archive,” Bekele explained during an appearance at the Deadline Studio at Prime Experience in Hollywood. “I realized there’s a huge chunk of missing history,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
A new drama is coming to BET+ this winter from director Armani Ortiz (Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story).
Perimeter, set in Atlanta in the 1990s (see the trailer, below), stars Tatyana Ali alongside newcomer Ava Mone’t and Donovan Christie Jr. The series centers around the Dawn family, daughter Paige (Mone’t), a sophomore at Spelman college whose life gets off track when she falls for a bad boy type; her father, Councilman Robert Dawn (Christie), whose political ambitions on his quest to become mayor come at a grave personal and moral cost; and his wife, Connie (Ali), who tries to keep the family together. Their personal drama takes place against the larger backdrop of two of Atlanta’s biggest cultural events at the time: Freaknik and the 1996 Summer Olympics.
“Exploring Atlanta in the early ’90s is like finding a cave full of diamonds,” Ortiz tells The Hollywood Reporter. “To...
Perimeter, set in Atlanta in the 1990s (see the trailer, below), stars Tatyana Ali alongside newcomer Ava Mone’t and Donovan Christie Jr. The series centers around the Dawn family, daughter Paige (Mone’t), a sophomore at Spelman college whose life gets off track when she falls for a bad boy type; her father, Councilman Robert Dawn (Christie), whose political ambitions on his quest to become mayor come at a grave personal and moral cost; and his wife, Connie (Ali), who tries to keep the family together. Their personal drama takes place against the larger backdrop of two of Atlanta’s biggest cultural events at the time: Freaknik and the 1996 Summer Olympics.
“Exploring Atlanta in the early ’90s is like finding a cave full of diamonds,” Ortiz tells The Hollywood Reporter. “To...
- 1/18/2024
- by Brande Victorian
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Prime Video has released the trailer for Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, a documentary almost a decade in the making.
The nearly three-minute trailer (below) details Perry’s rule-breaking rise to Hollywood prominence alongside an at-times-trying personal life. That includes an abusive upbringing, resulting in an estranged relationship with his father, and in his adulthood, watching his mother “slowly dying.”
“He had some horrific experiences that ultimately led to the characters he created and the imagination that he had,” says one voice in the trailer.
One of Perry’s friends details how the duo were so broke, they’d share burgers over discussions of his “great dreams,” while other talking heads elaborate on the challenges he faced once entering Hollywood — a space where he “broke every rule.”
“A studio executive said to him: ‘Black people don’t go to the movies.’ They were just wrong on every count when it came to Tyler,...
The nearly three-minute trailer (below) details Perry’s rule-breaking rise to Hollywood prominence alongside an at-times-trying personal life. That includes an abusive upbringing, resulting in an estranged relationship with his father, and in his adulthood, watching his mother “slowly dying.”
“He had some horrific experiences that ultimately led to the characters he created and the imagination that he had,” says one voice in the trailer.
One of Perry’s friends details how the duo were so broke, they’d share burgers over discussions of his “great dreams,” while other talking heads elaborate on the challenges he faced once entering Hollywood — a space where he “broke every rule.”
“A studio executive said to him: ‘Black people don’t go to the movies.’ They were just wrong on every count when it came to Tyler,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Multi-hyphenate mogul Tyler Perry’s life story is finally being told on the big screen.
Producer/director/actor Perry is the focus of Prime Video documentary “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,” which is billed as an intimate and revealing look at one of the most prolific entertainers of our time.
Co-directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, the film centers on Perry overcoming his childhood trauma in the midst of building an empire. “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,” a nod to his mother’s love, is a tender and intimate portrait of visionary and innovator Tyler Perry and his harrowing but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him.
Nearly a decade in the making, with unfettered access, directors Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz lead us into the inner world of a man whose story has never fully been told as he...
Producer/director/actor Perry is the focus of Prime Video documentary “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,” which is billed as an intimate and revealing look at one of the most prolific entertainers of our time.
Co-directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, the film centers on Perry overcoming his childhood trauma in the midst of building an empire. “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,” a nod to his mother’s love, is a tender and intimate portrait of visionary and innovator Tyler Perry and his harrowing but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him.
Nearly a decade in the making, with unfettered access, directors Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz lead us into the inner world of a man whose story has never fully been told as he...
- 10/17/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Even if you think you know Tyler Perry’s story – his improbable rise from homeless playwright to billionaire media mogul with a dozen Madea movies in between — the first footage from the upcoming documentary “Maxine’s Baby” contextualizes it all in a new way.
In August, Variety exclusively announced that the documentary was heading to Amazon MGM Studios. Directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, the documentary aims to present an “tender, intimate portrait” of Perry, with its title as a nod to his late mother Willie Maxine Perry, who died in 2009, and the two-and-a-half-minute trailer teases what’s to come.
The trailer opens with Perry backstage before a big event — presumably the 2019 opening of his eponymous 330-acre studio in Atlanta, Ga. “How are you feeling right now sir?” Ortiz asks from behind the lens.
“My problem with a lot of things in life is I can float above it.
In August, Variety exclusively announced that the documentary was heading to Amazon MGM Studios. Directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, the documentary aims to present an “tender, intimate portrait” of Perry, with its title as a nod to his late mother Willie Maxine Perry, who died in 2009, and the two-and-a-half-minute trailer teases what’s to come.
The trailer opens with Perry backstage before a big event — presumably the 2019 opening of his eponymous 330-acre studio in Atlanta, Ga. “How are you feeling right now sir?” Ortiz asks from behind the lens.
“My problem with a lot of things in life is I can float above it.
- 10/17/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The American Film Institute on Thursday revealed the full lineup for this year’s AFI Fest, taking place in Los Angeles from October 25-29. It joins the previously announced fest opener, Sam Esmail’s Leave the World Behind, and closer in Bradley Cooper’s Maestro. Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story is the Centerpiece film.
Additional highlights include the world premieres of Albert Brooks: Defending My Life directed by Rob Reiner and Freud’s Last Session directed by Matthew Brown. Other fest-season films in the lineup include All of Us Strangers directed by Andrew Haigh, Toronto winner American Fiction directed by Cord Jefferson, The Bikeriders directed by Jeff Nichols, The End We Start From directed by Mahalia Belo, Fingernails directed by Christos Nikou, Memory directed by Michel Franco, Quiz Lady directed by Jessica Yu, and Society of the Snow directed by J.A. Bayona which will screen in the Special Screenings...
Additional highlights include the world premieres of Albert Brooks: Defending My Life directed by Rob Reiner and Freud’s Last Session directed by Matthew Brown. Other fest-season films in the lineup include All of Us Strangers directed by Andrew Haigh, Toronto winner American Fiction directed by Cord Jefferson, The Bikeriders directed by Jeff Nichols, The End We Start From directed by Mahalia Belo, Fingernails directed by Christos Nikou, Memory directed by Michel Franco, Quiz Lady directed by Jessica Yu, and Society of the Snow directed by J.A. Bayona which will screen in the Special Screenings...
- 9/28/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
“Maxine’s Baby,” the upcoming documentary about Tyler Perry’s life and career, will make its world premiere at this year’s AFI Fest.
The Amazon Studios and Bekele Films documentary, directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, will debut on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as one of the festival’s centerpiece screenings.
“Tyler Perry is a creative force of nature – a multi-hyphenate who forged his own path to seismic impact in the world of storytelling while also inspiring the next generation to follow in his footsteps,” stated AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale announcing the film’s selection. “’Maxine’s Baby’ is an epic celebration of a modern maverick, and it is AFI’s honor to shine a proper light upon Mr. Perry and the film at AFI Fest.”
Last month, Variety exclusively announced that the documentary, which was nearly a decade in the making,...
The Amazon Studios and Bekele Films documentary, directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, will debut on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as one of the festival’s centerpiece screenings.
“Tyler Perry is a creative force of nature – a multi-hyphenate who forged his own path to seismic impact in the world of storytelling while also inspiring the next generation to follow in his footsteps,” stated AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale announcing the film’s selection. “’Maxine’s Baby’ is an epic celebration of a modern maverick, and it is AFI’s honor to shine a proper light upon Mr. Perry and the film at AFI Fest.”
Last month, Variety exclusively announced that the documentary, which was nearly a decade in the making,...
- 9/18/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay and Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
A new documentary about the prolific multihyphenate Tyler Perry will be AFI Fest’s centerpiece film next month. The American Film Institute said today that Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story will make its world premiere October 27 at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
The pic from Amazon Studios and Bekele Films is billed as a tender, intimate portrait of the Atlanta-based writer, actor, filmmaker, studio head and media mogul.
“Tyler Perry is a creative force of nature – a multihyphenate who forged his own path to seismic impact in the world of storytelling while also inspiring the next generation to follow in his footsteps,” AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale said in a statement. “Maxine’s Baby is an epic celebration of a modern maverick.”
Related: AFI Fest Sets 2023 Dates
Directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, the doc promises unfettered access to the inner world of Perry, whose...
The pic from Amazon Studios and Bekele Films is billed as a tender, intimate portrait of the Atlanta-based writer, actor, filmmaker, studio head and media mogul.
“Tyler Perry is a creative force of nature – a multihyphenate who forged his own path to seismic impact in the world of storytelling while also inspiring the next generation to follow in his footsteps,” AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale said in a statement. “Maxine’s Baby is an epic celebration of a modern maverick.”
Related: AFI Fest Sets 2023 Dates
Directed by Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz, the doc promises unfettered access to the inner world of Perry, whose...
- 9/18/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The life and career of the billionaire writer, actor, filmmaker, studio head and media tycoon Tyler Perry is getting the Amazon Studios documentary treatment in a film is co-directed bv Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz. Titled “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,” the film is described as “a nod to Perry’s mother’s love and a tender, intimate portrait of visionary and innovator Perry.” It will begin streaming over Prime Video on November 17.
Perry’s mother Willie Maxine Perry died in 2009.
A release announcing the doc notes, “Tyler Perry is America’s consummate multihyphenate. But underneath the entertainment behemoth is a man working humbly to heal his childhood trauma by transforming his pain into promise.” It goes on to describe that “Maxine’s Baby” will chronicle “his harrowing but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him.” Nearly a decade in the making,...
Perry’s mother Willie Maxine Perry died in 2009.
A release announcing the doc notes, “Tyler Perry is America’s consummate multihyphenate. But underneath the entertainment behemoth is a man working humbly to heal his childhood trauma by transforming his pain into promise.” It goes on to describe that “Maxine’s Baby” will chronicle “his harrowing but faithful road to the top of an industry that didn’t always include him.” Nearly a decade in the making,...
- 8/30/2023
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Planet 9 Productions has hired Barkhad Abdi, Amy Smart, and Rory Cochrane to star in the family drama “Tyson’s Run,” Variety has learned.
“Tyson’s Run” started principal photography in Atlanta on July 9. Kim Bass is directing from his own script. The story centers on a 15-year-old boy, living with autism, who tries to heal the rift between his parents and the emotional distance from his father by pursuing an athletic dream.
Bass, a former staff writer on “In Living Color” and creator of primetime family series “Sister, Sister” and “Kenan & Kel,” is also producing with Deanna Shapiro, Eric Upshur, and Asante White. Planet 9 chief John Cappetta will serve as executive producer.
“We look forward to bringing this meaningful, heartfelt story to fruition,” Bass said. “I’m enthusiastic about the wonderful cast and crew we’ve assembled and eager to work with these phenomenal professionals.”
Abdi received an...
“Tyson’s Run” started principal photography in Atlanta on July 9. Kim Bass is directing from his own script. The story centers on a 15-year-old boy, living with autism, who tries to heal the rift between his parents and the emotional distance from his father by pursuing an athletic dream.
Bass, a former staff writer on “In Living Color” and creator of primetime family series “Sister, Sister” and “Kenan & Kel,” is also producing with Deanna Shapiro, Eric Upshur, and Asante White. Planet 9 chief John Cappetta will serve as executive producer.
“We look forward to bringing this meaningful, heartfelt story to fruition,” Bass said. “I’m enthusiastic about the wonderful cast and crew we’ve assembled and eager to work with these phenomenal professionals.”
Abdi received an...
- 7/11/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
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